Being a happy person isn’t a personality trait; it’s a lifestyle. Call me crazy, but being able to put on a happy face when the going gets tough is quite the feat, whether you’re in the office or out.

No matter where you are, a positive attitude can not only change your own mindset, but also alter those around you.

Picture this: You walk into your cubicle and you’re immediately greeted by smiling co-workers, an apple cider donut (maybe that’s overkill, but you get the idea) on your desk and a friendly ‘good morning’. Your morning is off to a great start; you’re indulging in cinnamon sugar goodness and a few smiles have altered your attitude at 7:45am. Life is good.

Now picture this: You walk into your cubicle, walk past a few co-workers, no one greets you with a friendly ‘good morning’ and you plop into your roll-y chair apple cider donut-less. Life is meh.

It’s insane how a simple ‘good morning’ and a sleepy smile can have on your entire outlook, especially in the workplace. Choosing to be positive even when your day isn’t going exactly your way is an accomplishment. It’s so easy to forget your manners, to complain, to resent and to hold grudges, but it’s a bigger feat to keep your head up.

Little gestures go a long way.

Whether you hold the door a tad bit longer for the person behind you at the store or you smile at someone walking past you in the hallway, those little positive gestures can affect another’s day.

Choosing to be the one who smiled first is something you won’t regret. I promise.

Ditch the internal negativity.

Your mind has the ability to transform your entire demeanor. For every negative thought, replace it with a positive. Don’t let your mind control your life; it’ll only bring you down.

You can only control yourself.

You might not be able to control external situations, but you can choose to control how you react to those situations. Just because someone else is in a bad mood doesn’t mean you have to change your attitude.